Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ), the Ukrainian state railway company, has reported notable advancements in its container transportation and terminal services sector, aiming to establish itself as a leading player in this field.
The company continued the strategic development of the Lisky branch, including the expansion of its platform fleet and the optimization of wagon fleet utilization. It has introduced a unified digital platform designed to streamline cargo transportation processes for clients, alongside a simplified and improved calculation system.
UZ is also expanding its terminal capabilities and network, with ongoing construction of an intermodal terminal at Kovel-Lisky station. This facility will facilitate cargo transshipment between the broad and standard gauge. Presently, all Lisky terminals maintain regular connections with European seaports.
To improve its container transportation capabilities, Ukrzaliznytsia constructed 500 new platforms at its facilities as part of its investment program, all of which are now operational. The total fleet at the CTS "Lisky" stands at 4,439 platforms. The addition of a reachstacker, received as part of international aid and operational at the Lisky-Sknyliv terminal, further bolsters the company's logistic capacities.
Container transportation volumes experienced a 12% increase in 2023 compared to the previous year, reaching 102,000 containers, while the twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) count matched the 2022 level of 115.5 thousand, despite the challenges faced in the initial months of the large-scale invasion. Cargo processing at the branch also saw an 8% increase, totaling 1.448 million tons, with branch income showing a consistent growth trajectory 8% higher than in 2022 and 48% more than in 2021.
Approximately 50% of the transported goods comprise agricultural products, with container routes extending both within Ukraine and to European ports such as Konstanz, Gdańsk, and Izmail. Over 35,500 containers received forwarding services in 2023, with 1.14 million tons of cargo transported using the branch's fitting platforms.
In collaboration with UZ Cargo Poland, Ukrzaliznytsia introduced a new service for transporting containers via intermodal route trains to the Polish seaport of Gdansk and within Poland, transporting nearly 7,000 TEUs by intermodal trains of the "Lisky" TTS. Additionally, amidst a blockade by Polish protesters last December, Ukrzaliznytsia organized a counter-trailer train with trucks for the first time in its history.
The Lisky branch of Ukrzaliznytsia owns terminals, a fleet of intermodal platforms and containers, and operates container, intermodal, and combined transport trains, alongside other cargo transportation services. Currently, the branch contributes to 40% of cargo transportation with intermodal platforms on an average annual basis.
